Mr. Max, be slightly disappointing if Red Bull went relatively backwards, as aerodynamic changes should help them out (they're usually good in that area, and developing generally) and the engine change should narrow, though not close, the performance gap to Mercedes and Ferrari.

Mr. Foremain, doesn't Japan have free trade with no free movement, no budget contributions and no supremacy of EU law?

From a quick skim through the practice sessions, it looks awfully like this season starts pretty much where last season finished.

Last year in Melbourne, it looks really close between Mercedes and Ferrari, until in Q3 Hamilton banged one in more half a second faster than anyone else.

There are some suggestions that Ferrari might have Mercedes' problem of last season - the car is potentially faster, but is overheating the tyres.In any event, Mercedes have topped the times in the previous nine practice sessions in Oz, and their margin is significantly less this year.

Qualifying will give a better idea of whether it's going to be another Merc year.

As I've said before on here many times the Leave campaign refused to give details before the referendum about what Brexit should mean. They entirely responsible therefore for the current situation. If it ends in Remain so be it.

From a quick skim through the practice sessions, it looks awfully like this season starts pretty much where last season finished.

Last year in Melbourne, it looks really close between Mercedes and Ferrari, until in Q3 Hamilton banged one in more half a second faster than anyone else.

We won't know the order of the grid until Q3, so much sandbagging going on in practice. I think Ferrari are going to be super quick though, and Red Bull are going to struggle badly this season.

I think that might be right. Merc and Ferrari very close at the top, and RB clearly a step back at the top of the midfield. We’ll find out tomorrow morning, when all the sandbagging and engine saving stops and the competition starts properly.

Mr. Max, be slightly disappointing if Red Bull went relatively backwards, as aerodynamic changes should help them out (they're usually good in that area, and developing generally) and the engine change should narrow, though not close, the performance gap to Mercedes and Ferrari.

Mr. Foremain, doesn't Japan have free trade with no free movement, no budget contributions and no supremacy of EU law?

Mr. Foremain, Japan recently signed a free trade agreement with the EU.

As far as I'm aware, and I stand to be corrected, it doesn't include free movement, supremacy of EU law, or budget contributions, which is the position you were implying was impossible for the UK to reasonably desire or actually achieve.

Two worst far right atrocities in the last 20 years: Sweden and New Zealand. That's either really weird, or the general perception of those countries is waaay off base.

I agree. I said at the time of the Brevik attacks that his reasoning was especially deluded given that Norway (not Sweden) was one of the most integrated countries in the world as a result of their settlement policies. I think that attack showed just how detached from reality these extremists are. I suspect this one will show the same.

We aren't still expecting blow jobs. The reason we are getting divorced is that the wife wouldn't GIVE us a blow job. She reserved them for the blonde Nordic types. Oh, and a little holiday fling with some swarthy Mediterranean guy. She expected us to be monogmous, but then shagged her way round Europe.

On topic, I don't think Mike's right that the Withdrawal Act would require an amending Act to change the defined Brexit Date. There's an amending clause within it that enables the minister to change the date.

Section 20(4):

A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—(a)amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and(b)amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.

Those more versed in parliamentary procedure can advise whether there'd have to be any votes to authorise such a regulation but it wouldn't need an emergency Act.

On topic, I don't think Mike's right that the Withdrawal Act would require an amending Act to change the defined Brexit Date. There's an amending clause within it that enables the minister to change the date.

Section 20(4):

A Minister of the Crown may by regulations—(a)amend the definition of “exit day” in subsection (1) to ensure that the day and time specified in the definition are the day and time that the Treaties are to cease to apply to the United Kingdom, and(b)amend subsection (2) in consequence of any such amendment.

Those more versed in parliamentary procedure can advise whether there'd have to be any votes to authorise such a regulation but it wouldn't need an emergency Act.

I posted this on the last thread and would like to thank my fellow PB contributors for their kind comments: -

Our family has great affection for New Zealand and especially Christchurch where our eldest son emigrated to 15 years ago and we have visited several times. Though our eldest son now lives in Vancouver he retains ties with friends and ex work colleagues there.

This attack is evil in it's purest form and we need as a Country, especially in light of Brexit, to make a concerted effort to bring all our communities together in total condemnation of all intolerance

I posted this on my facebook page this morning and know PB forum will join in our condolences and sympathy to all Kiwis

To all Kiwis

We have woken up to the horrific attacks in Christchurch and just cannot believe it. Tears are shed for that beautiful City, it's people and the whole Country. Such hatred is beyond belief and we must alll stand against the bigotted and twisted minds of those who think like this. May the Good Lord comfort all those affected and our prayers are for all Kiwis everywhere.

1) TMay seems to have accepted an extension if her deal is passed to pass other legislation and tidy stuff up and it's almost impossible to imagine a short post-deal extension being vetoed, unless the timing makes it impossible, eg parliament passes the deal with 5 minutes to spare

2) I don't think is right - can't it be extended by statutory instrument or something?

3) is the issue - not so much Farage lobbying populists, which could probably be worked around with a fake revoke, but the UK just not having a plan beyond delay, and some governments being unwilling to delay without a plan. This is hard to call but I doubt it's more than a 5% chance.

We aren't still expecting blow jobs. The reason we are getting divorced is that the wife wouldn't GIVE us a blow job. She reserved them for the blonde Nordic types. Oh, and a little holiday fling with some swarthy Mediterranean guy. She expected us to be monogmous, but then shagged her way round Europe.

Amazing you were able to post that embarrassing garbage after calling someone else "trite".

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

Mr. Foremain, Japan recently signed a free trade agreement with the EU.

As far as I'm aware, and I stand to be corrected, it doesn't include free movement, supremacy of EU law, or budget contributions, which is the position you were implying was impossible for the UK to reasonably desire or actually achieve.

I am not sure I ever made such a claim, so you may be getting me confused with someone else. I have not read the detail of the agreement with Japan. What I do know is that we will not now be part of that particular opportunity thanks to our withdrawal for the largest trading bloc in the world.

I think you will also find that EU law only has supremacy in certain delegated areas as part of international treaties, in the same way that we adhere to treaty laws in respect to our obligations to NATO. The Japanese will de facto have to agree to EU law in order to sell their goods here as they do already (CE mark etc.).

Cutting ourselves off from a free trade deal with Japan is another example of the self-harm effect of Brexit. Still I am told that the disgraced former GP has got us a trade deal with Papua New Guinea. So as the lady who was most responsible for the single market would not have said "let's rejoice at that news FFS"

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

The chap in front of him was a Labour party hack and just as bad on the other side of the argument.

QT audiences used to dress to the Left but I think the Beeb have made efforts to redress this and these days there is if anything a bias the other way. Or perhaps it is another Brexit effect, the split now being Leave / Remain rather than Left / Right.

I don't think this makes much sense. We are way past the window for an orderly withdrawal on March 29th. There's 400-odd votes in parliament (on a free vote, and I'd expect the Tories to whip in favour of the related legislation) for delay, and the Lords called for it ages ago.

So the only way we leave on 29th March is a crash. So the EU turn down both the short and long term extension plans, and a last ditch vote to revoke A50 fails. Seems remote to me, if Spain say they want us to give them Gibraltar for an extension, looks to me like the other EU countries will talk them out of it.

Mr. Foremain, Japan recently signed a free trade agreement with the EU.

As far as I'm aware, and I stand to be corrected, it doesn't include free movement, supremacy of EU law, or budget contributions, which is the position you were implying was impossible for the UK to reasonably desire or actually achieve.

I am not sure I ever made such a claim, so you may be getting me confused with someone else. I have not read the detail of the agreement with Japan. What I do know is that we will not now be part of that particular opportunity thanks to our withdrawal for the largest trading bloc in the world.

I think you will also find that EU law only has supremacy in certain delegated areas as part of international treaties, in the same way that we adhere to treaty laws in respect to our obligations to NATO. The Japanese will de facto have to agree to EU law in order to sell their goods here as they do already (CE mark etc.).

Cutting ourselves off from a free trade deal with Japan is another example of the self-harm effect of Brexit. Still I am told that the disgraced former GP has got us a trade deal with Papua New Guinea. So as the lady who was most responsible for the single market would not have said "let's rejoice at that news FFS"

Oh, and PS., as you may have guessed, I have absolutely no problem with free movement, I think it is one of the best elements of the EU. The fact that our government was too stupid or inept to restrict the 50% of immigration from outside the EU, and put in restrictions on access to health etc. is a further indictment of our crap un-democratic system that all rightwingers delude themselves is the best system in Europe, which clearly it is not.

I'm a swing eligible voter on the Lib Dem leadership. I never thought that Tim Farron should have stood down, whatever issues around his faith his campaigning skills were sorely needed and haven't come close to being matched under Cable. In a fair world where intellect, experience, judgement and wisdom were valued more highly, and shouting loudly valued lower, Vince should have ben a colossus. This world is anything but fair.

I'm concerned over a couple of things Layla Moran has chosen to campaign on in the last few months; I've some judgement queries. On Jo Swinson I want to know that she's a wider vision than gender-neutral bathrooms uniforms and gender pay gaps. On Ed Davey I've concerns how he'll get noticed and how nimble he can be in praising / criticising the coalition where needed. And I would never vote for a non-MP to be leader, whatever the outcome of the proposed changes coming to Spring Conference. My vote is up for grabs.

I had lunch with my closest Russian friend last week and this was his gossip from Moscow:

Putin's top priority is now encouraging immigration from other Russophone countries as the depopulation crisis is only getting worse. Immigration control, or rather the rapid relaxing thereof, has now been brought under the direct control of the President's office.

Navalny may be brought in from the cold and groomed as a Putin successor. This would be staggering if true but nothing would surprise me about Russia. Despite their differences, to put it mildly, he is the sort of strident nationalist of which Putin approves.

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

F1: small aside, but interesting Hulkenberg was a tiny bit faster than Ricciardo in second practice. Could be a tasty fight between those two. Big opportunity for Hulkenberg to perform well against a great driver.

I had lunch with my closest Russian friend last week and this was his gossip from Moscow:

Putin's top priority is now encouraging immigration from other Russophone countries as the depopulation crisis is only getting worse. Immigration control, or rather the rapid relaxing thereof, has now been brought under the direct control of the President's office.

Navalny may be brought in from the cold and groomed as a Putin successor. This would be staggering if true but nothing would surprise me about Russia. Despite their differences, to put it mildly, he is the sort of strident nationalist of which Putin approves.

Maybe troll factories are not as deliberately subversive as we thought. Perhaps they are employment opportunities for Anglophones. Putin's equivalent to India's English speaking call centres

Few months I think. Vince has said he's standing down after the local elections in May, but that may need to include the Euro elections in late May. So let's say nominations in June, ballots and hustings July/August for a big unveiling around party conference season?

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

Far too little, far too late.

If the DUP cave in, then I can see maybe 50 of Moggsy lot falling in (including Moggsy). Wouldn't need that many from Labour to come over out of the 30 or so that are seriously considering it.

29th March would still be long odds against as impossible to do the paperwork on time

Mr. Foremain, Japan recently signed a free trade agreement with the EU.

As far as I'm aware, and I stand to be corrected, it doesn't include free movement, supremacy of EU law, or budget contributions, which is the position you were implying was impossible for the UK to reasonably desire or actually achieve.

I am not sure I ever made such a claim, so you may be getting me confused with someone else. I have not read the detail of the agreement with Japan. What I do know is that we will not now be part of that particular opportunity thanks to our withdrawal for the largest trading bloc in the world.

I think you will also find that EU law only has supremacy in certain delegated areas as part of international treaties, in the same way that we adhere to treaty laws in respect to our obligations to NATO. The Japanese will de facto have to agree to EU law in order to sell their goods here as they do already (CE mark etc.).

Cutting ourselves off from a free trade deal with Japan is another example of the self-harm effect of Brexit. Still I am told that the disgraced former GP has got us a trade deal with Papua New Guinea. So as the lady who was most responsible for the single market would not have said "let's rejoice at that news FFS"

Sorry Nigel but this is simply wrong (or parts of it anyway). There is no comparison between the way in which the EU can impose laws on a member state against their wishes (due to QMV) and an organisation like NATO where every country has a veto and no new laws or rules can be imposed without the agreement of every member.

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

Far too little, far too late.

If the DUP cave in, then I can see maybe 50 of Moggsy lot falling in (including Moggsy). Wouldn't need that many from Labour to come over out of the 30 or so that are seriously considering it.

29th March would still be long odds against as impossible to do the paperwork on time

We have no proof 30 or so are considering it . It seems to be based on hope and rumours.

LOL, utter made up bollox, unionists and their poodles are getting desperate. Who would waste time on these pipsqueak nobodies. Given they do F all who would ever know they had been an MP.PS I note you did not include the "ALLEGED" to cover the fact that it is all a fantasy of the cretins imagination , actually believing anybody would know him or give a toss. They should stick to their usual shenanigans in the strangers bar after liberal use of public money.

I had lunch with my closest Russian friend last week and this was his gossip from Moscow:

Putin's top priority is now encouraging immigration from other Russophone countries as the depopulation crisis is only getting worse. Immigration control, or rather the rapid relaxing thereof, has now been brought under the direct control of the President's office.

Navalny may be brought in from the cold and groomed as a Putin successor. This would be staggering if true but nothing would surprise me about Russia. Despite their differences, to put it mildly, he is the sort of strident nationalist of which Putin approves.

Maybe troll factories are not as deliberately subversive as we thought. Perhaps they are employment opportunities for Anglophones. Putin's equivalent to India's English speaking call centres

This is 100% happening now. The troll factory model of the building on Ylitsa Savushkina has been superseded by network of foreign "consultants". Especially since the CIA/MI6/DGSE burned down the original troll factory last year.

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

Far too little, far too late.

If the DUP cave in, then I can see maybe 50 of Moggsy lot falling in (including Moggsy). Wouldn't need that many from Labour to come over out of the 30 or so that are seriously considering it.

29th March would still be long odds against as impossible to do the paperwork on time

We have no proof 30 or so are considering it . It seems to be based on hope and rumours.

Caroline Flint was pretty specific on that sort of number. I would have thought she would be 'in the know' as much as anyone.

LOL, utter made up bollox, unionists and their poodles are getting desperate. Who would waste time on these pipsqueak nobodies. Given they do F all who would ever know they had been an MP.PS I note you did not include the "ALLEGED" to cover the fact that it is all a fantasy of the cretins imagination , actually believing anybody would know him or give a toss. They should stick to their usual shenanigans in the strangers bar after liberal use of public money.

After Mr Graham’s statement in the Commons, Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP for Glasgow South, who was recently targeted by right-wing blogger Tommy Robinson, tweeted: “I’m truly sorry to hear this @LukeGrahamMP.

“My staff and I know what it’s like to be intimidated by those who don’t like your politics and this sort of stuff is never ever acceptable.

I don't know how many ERG members will oppose Brexit to the bitter end. 30 seems a reasonable estimate, but it's easy to hold out when peers and supporters are egging you on. Less so, when they're telling you that you're being a cock. It does seem growing numbers of Leavers realise the WA is as good as it gets.

Far too little, far too late.

If the DUP cave in, then I can see maybe 50 of Moggsy lot falling in (including Moggsy). Wouldn't need that many from Labour to come over out of the 30 or so that are seriously considering it.

29th March would still be long odds against as impossible to do the paperwork on time

We have no proof 30 or so are considering it . It seems to be based on hope and rumours.

THey managed to get Philip Davies and Scott Mann to switch, two hard brexiters. If they can get the DUP to switch then more will follow - but the DUP is key.

However, I cannot see the House of Commons permitting this. They have two main mechanisms for halting exit on 29th March. The first is revoking Article 50. Whilst unlikely, if push comes to shove I'm certain they would do this rather than crash out with No Deal. The other is to table the appropriate legislation. This is feasible even at the last minute and, again, I'm certain they will do it if necessary.

Which, if correct, means there's only one reason why we might leave on March 29th: that's if Theresa May's deal goes through.

Now having said all of that we have a BIG problem in the betting market around the interpretation of 'leave.' It has been mooted that the UK might 'politically' leave on 29th March whilst technically and legally it takes longer. That's going to cause a real rumpus for punters.

LOL, utter made up bollox, unionists and their poodles are getting desperate. Who would waste time on these pipsqueak nobodies. Given they do F all who would ever know they had been an MP.PS I note you did not include the "ALLEGED" to cover the fact that it is all a fantasy of the cretins imagination , actually believing anybody would know him or give a toss. They should stick to their usual shenanigans in the strangers bar after liberal use of public money.

After Mr Graham’s statement in the Commons, Stewart McDonald, the SNP MP for Glasgow South, who was recently targeted by right-wing blogger Tommy Robinson, tweeted: “I’m truly sorry to hear this @LukeGrahamMP.

“My staff and I know what it’s like to be intimidated by those who don’t like your politics and this sort of stuff is never ever acceptable.

“Please pass on our best wishes to your office team.”

Compare & contrast.....

Yes the Tories go on about traitors and abuse all the time, they decry the SNP constantly and never ever ever show any sympathy when they are being attacked. It is utter bollox from a typical right wing nobody trying to be important. Bet you could not find a handful of people who knew he was an MP. Tories cannot decry anyone , they are a nasty bunch and rotten to the core. We will see if there is ever any evidence that the fantasy ever happened. As I said desperate unionists say SNP BAD, how novel.